ärˈtil(ə)rē, ȧˈ-, -ri, attrib (ˈ) ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷( ̷ ̷) ̷ ̷ noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English artilrie, artillerie, from Middle French artillerie, from Old French, from artillier to furnish with implements especially for warfare (probably from art skill) + -erie -ery — more at art
1.
a. archaic : munitions of war : implements for offensive and defensive warfare
b. : weapons (as bows, slings, arbalests, and catapults) for discharging missiles
c. : crew-served carriage-mounted firearms used in modern warfare that are of caliber greater than that of small arms : ordnance (as guns or howitzers) with its equipment : cannon
d. slang : personal weapons : small arms
2.
a.
(1) : the missiles discharged by the weapons of war, especially from modern ordnance
(2) : the massed fire of artillery weapons
b. : means of arguing or persuading
his own high-powered conversational artillery — Newsweek
3. obsolete : the practice of archery
4. : the branch or analogous organization of an army that is armed with artillery and whose primary missions are furnishing close-fire support to forward combat units, supplying counterbattery fire and fire directed against the enemy's rear areas, and using antiaircraft weapons against enemy planes
5. : carthamus red